IRVING, Texas – Colorado State University Pueblo senior linebacker Jon Nuschy (La Junta, Colo./University of Northern Colorado) has been named by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) as one of the record 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

Celebrating its 35th year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. This year's 203 semifinalists from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA boasts an impressive 3.63 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.

Nuschy is one three football players from the state of Colorado to make the semifinalist list as Colorado State's Tory Horton and United States Air Force Academy's Matthew Dapore are the other players from the "Centennial State" to be named as 2024 semifinalists.

In addition, Nuschy is one of 18 nominees for the Campbell Trophy® from NCAA Division II schools and one of two players nominated from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as Black Hills State redshirt senior linebacker Aaron Thiele was also named a semifinalist.

"These 203 semifinalists reflect not only exceptional academic and athletic talent but also the deep-rooted leadership that shows a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, which is learned on the gridiron," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "The Campbell Trophy® continues to represent the pinnacle of what it means to be a scholar-athlete, and this year's candidates exemplify how football builds future leaders who will undoubtedly shape tomorrow's world."

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23 and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2023 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 10, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 35th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. 

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, having outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

Nuschy, who is in his third and final season playing with the ThunderWolves after playing his first season at Northern Colorado, has recorded 197 tackles in his career, including 95 solo stops in 37 games with the Pack. In addition, he has recorded 1.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass break-ups and one forced fumble. Through four games this season, Nuschy is tied for the team lead in tackles with 36, including 16 solo stops and he has also had 1.5 sacks, 4.0 tackles for a loss and one quarterback hurry.

The 5-foot-11, 204-pound Nuschy earned his bachelor's degree in Business Management with an emphasis in the Sports Industry in December 2024 and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration from CSU Pueblo. He carried a 3.561 GPA in the classroom as an undergraduate and has a 3.65 GPA as a graduate student. Among the academic honors Nuschy has received include being named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Football Team and also being named to the 2023 NFF Colorado Chapter Academic All-Colorado Team and being a 2023-24 D2ADA Academic Achievement Award winner. He is a two-time member of the RMAC Football Academic Honor Roll and is four-time member of the Dean's List at CSU Pueblo.

"We are incredibly proud of this year's semifinalists, who embody the true spirit of the Campbell Trophy®," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of this prestigious award, their achievements remind us of the profound impact scholar-athletes have, not just on their teams, but on the communities they serve and the careers they pursue after football. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates."

Launched in 1959, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments celebrate their 65th year in 2023. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on both a player's academic and athletic accomplishments, and the NFF has recognized 906 outstanding individuals since the program's inception. This year's postgraduate scholarships will push the program's all-time distribution to more than $12.6 million.

The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the program's prestige. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and eight first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.

Known as "The Coach of Silicon Valley," Campbell became one of our country's most influential business leaders, playing critical roles in the success of Apple, Google, Intuit and countless other high-tech companies. The captain of the 1961 Columbia Ivy League championship team, he found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from football coach to advertising executive. His ability to recruit, develop, and manage talented executives - all lessons learned on the gridiron - proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success.

Later in life, Campbell was driven by a heartfelt desire to give back, and he quietly gave away tens of millions of dollars to multiple charities while also finding an hour and half each autumn weekday to coach an eighth-grade boys and girls flag-football team near his home in Palo Alto, California. Campbell passed away April 18, 2016, at the age of 75.